Planet Formation and Panspermia

Such a development should not unduly worry us at present for several reasons. First, it is certainly not an immediate prospect. More important, however, is the history-tested conclusion that all theoretical concepts in empirical science have limited lifetime, as our theories are continuously improving and each particular framework is being substituted by an explanatorily better or a more efficient one. Habitability is an immensely useful concept for these early days of astrobiology and it is likely to remain so for decades to come, but we should be aware that it is largely constrained by our anthropocentric and geocentric viewpoint; calls for overcoming the latter can already be heard [3.40]. Not rejecting, but transcending the present-day understanding of habitability will be one of the clearest proofs of progress, and indeed the greatest triumph of future astrobiology.

Useful comments of an anonymous referee are hereby acknowledged. The author wishes to thank Ksenija Petrović, Adrian Lenardic, Amedeo Balbi, Ana Katić, Anders Sandberg, George Dvorsky, John Smart, Slobodan Perović, Karl Schroeder, Ana Roljević, Aleksandar Obradović, Milan Stojanović, Goran Milovanović, Srdja Janković, the late Damian Veal, and the Editors who offered helpful suggestions and pleasant conversations on the related topics. Dušan Pavlović has kindly helped in obtaining some of the literature. South Korean rock diva Jihae is acknowledged for providing musical inspiration during the work on this chapter.

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